Brazilian Prosecutor Seeks Injunction to Halt Work at Acu Superport

RIO DE JANEIRO — A federal prosecutor in Brazil is seeking an injunction to halt work at the Acu port complex, an important part of billionaire Brazilian businessman Eike Batista’s strategy to capitalize on the country’s burgeoning oil and shipbuilding industries.

A judge has not yet ruled on the request for the injunction, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The civil lawsuit claims that construction of the port, a major industrial complex that will feature a shipyard, oil-processing plant and oilfield services, caused salt levels in fresh water rivers and lakes in the surrounding area to rise. Mr. Batista’s EBX Group is leading the project via logistics firm LLX Logistica S/A (LLXL3.BR) and shipbuilder OSX Brasil SA (OSXB3.BR).

The case also names federal environmental agency Ibama and Rio de Janeiro state environmental regulators Inea, asking that the judge forbid the agencies from granting EBX, LLX and OSX licenses needed to continue work and operate the port.